Flight School for a person who wears glasses?

SamAca10

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What are the vision requirements to fly for the United States Coast Guard? I wear glasses, and while my right eye is 20/30, my left eye is really bad (it's a lazy eye). When I took DoDMERB the doctor said I had a good lazy eye, as far as lazy eyes go...I do have great depth perception,though...So, would I be able to fly at all? Is PRK possible? Is it possible to get flight school straight out of the Academy? Does your major matter in determining that? Any information, input, advice, or insights would be greatly appreciated.
 
a "lazy eye" and a bad eye are two completely different things with different standards. I don't know the CG standards as well as I do Navy ones, but here's the applicable portion for you:

j. Distant Visual Acuity. Distant visual acuity shall be not worse than 20/200 in either eye and if worse than 20/20 must be correctable to 20/20 with spectacle lenses. When the visual acuity of either eye is worse than 20/20 correction shall be worn at all times while flying.
k. Oculomotor Balance. The following are disqualifying:
(1) esophoria greater than 10 prism diopters;
(2) exophoria greater than 10 prism diopters;
(3) hyperphoria greater than 1.5 prism diopters;
(4) prism divergence at 20 feet and 13 inches is optional. These tests shall be accomplished only on designated aviators who have sustained significant head injury, central nervous system disease, or who have demonstrated a change in their phorias.
l. Eyes. Any pathologic condition that may become worse or interfere with proper eye function under the environmental and operational conditions of flying is disqualifying. History of radial keratotomy, PRK, LASIK or other refractive surgery is disqualifying.
m. Near Visual Acuity. Uncorrected near vision (both eyes) shall be not worse than 20/200 correctable to 20/20, with correction worn in multivision lenses while flying if uncorrected near vision is worse than 20/40 in either eye.
n. Color Vision. Normal color perception is required. (If shown to be normal on previous exam, may be so noted.)
o. Depth Perception. Normal depth perception is required. When any correction is required for normal depth perception it must be worn at all times.
p. Field of Vision. The field of vision for each eye shall be normal as determined by the finger fixation test. When there is evidence of abnormal contraction of the field of vision in either eye, the examinee shall be subjected to perimetric study for form. Any contraction of the form field of 15o or more in any meridian is disqualifying.
q. Refraction. There are no refractive limits.

The important part for a true lazy eye is "k. Oculomotor Balance"
 
Does that mean visual acuity does not have to be 20/20 uncorrected? As long as it doesn't exceed 20/200? Or does that just depend on the air frame of the aircraft(i.e. jets, helos)?
 
apparently for coast guard you only need to be better than 20/200 uncorrected for Class 1 (aka pilot) standards. I think the bigger issue for you may be the eso/exophoria's which are what measure "lazy eyes". Unfortunately no easy way to measure this except in the office.
 
the acuity standards are 20/50 far, 20/20 near. anything else needs to be corrected with PRK (although Lasik may be acceptable soon). i dont know about any other eye problems like a lazy eye though.
 
What are the vision requirements to fly for the United States Coast Guard? Is it possible to get flight school straight out of the Academy? Does your major matter in determining that?

The Academy is currently sending between 10-15% of the graduating class directly to flight school...your academic performance (more than actual major) is a significant factor in selection. Standards are below...

FIGURE 3-C-3
MINIMUM DISTANT VISUAL ACUITY REQUIREMENTS
CATEGORY VISION
A. Aviation Personnel: Uncorrected Corrected
1. Candidates for Flight Training 20/50 20/20
2. Pilot, Class 20/200 20/20
3. Pilot, Class 1R (as waivered) 20/20
4. Designated Flight Officer 20/400 20/20
5. Flight Surgeon,
Aviation Medical Examiner or
Aviation MEDEVAC Specialist 20/400 20/20
6. Candidate for Aircrew 20/100 20/20
7. Designated Aircrew 20/200 20/20
8. Landing Signal Officer (LSO) 20/200 20/20
9. Air Traffic Controller Candidate 20/100 20/20
10.Designated Air Traffic Controller 20/200 20/20
B. Officers (Note 1):
1. Commissioned or Warrant in the 20/400 20/20
USCG or USCGR
2. Appt in the USCG of Licensed 20/400 20/20
Officers of the Merchant Marine
3. Direct Commission in the USCGR 20/400 20/20
4. Appointment as Cadet 20/400 20/20
5. Precommissioning of Cadets 20/400 20/20
6. OCS Candidates 20/400 20/20
7. Precommissioning of Officer 20/400 20/20
Candidates
8. Diving Candidates 20/100 20/20
9. Designated Diver 20/200 20/20
C. Enlisted Personnel:
1. Enlistment in the USCG or USCGR See 3.D.9 (Note 2)
2. Diving Candidates (Note 3) 20/20
3. Designated Diver (Note 3) 20/20
Notes:
1. Refractive error does not exceed plus or minus 8.0 diopters spherical equivalent (sphere + 1/2 cylinder) and that astigmatism does not exceed 3.00 diopters and anisometropia does not exceed 3.50 diopters.
2. Corrected vision shall be 20/40 in the better eye and 20/70 in the other or 20/30 in the better eye and 20/100 in the other, or 20/20 in the better and 20/400 in the other. (Note that near visual acuity must correct to at least 20/40 in the better eye.) Refractive error does not exceed plus or minus 8.00 diopters spherical equivalent (sphere + 1/2 cylinder) and ordinary spectacles do not cause discomfort by reason of ghost images, prismatic displacement, etc.; error must not have been corrected by
orthokeratology or keratorefractive surgery.
3. 20/100 in the better eye and 20/200 in the worse eye.
Chapter 3. C. Page 41
CH-1
 
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